The ocean is a big, mysterious place. You can find every kind of sea creature there. Every one of those creatures is special. And they survive underwater in their own ways. Of course, there are marine mammals like whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions on this list. Today, we are going to discuss interesting characteristics of one of these creatures, known as the wolf of the sea. Yes, the killer whales.
But is it really a whale, or is it more like a dolphin?
Let us find out.
Table of Contents
Explore the dolphin within the killer whale
Marine mammals are warm-blooded animals. They have made water their home and evolved over time to live in the ocean, with adaptations like sleek bodies, blubber for warmth, and different swimming limbs. There are so many different kinds of marine mammals. There are,
- Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
- Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses)
- Sirenians (manatees and dugongs)
- Marine otters
- Polar bears
But today, we especially focus on two cetaceans, whales and dolphins. There are two main groups of cetaceans: toothed whales (Odontoceti) and baleen whales (Mysticeti). Toothed whales have teeth, and baleen whales have special plates to filter tiny food from the water. Dolphins, killer whales, porpoises, and all dolphin species are part of a toothed whale family.
Let us learn more about dolphins and killer whales first before we find out if killer whales are dolphins. An Inventory of Peer-reviewed Articles on Killer Whales paper samples the peer-reviewed scientific research on killer whales with a comparison to Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
The world of dolphins
Dolphins are some of the smartest and most social animals in the ocean. People all over the world love these playful creatures.
Why?
Since they are very intelligent, they can solve problems, learn tricks, and even recognize themselves in mirrors. They are also very social. They live in pods and work together to find food and take care of their young. They even have their own communicating way. Yes, those clicks and whistles are unique to them. There are many different types of dolphins with their own special features. Some of the most famous ones are bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, spinner dolphins, and river dolphins. The skin microbiota of captive bottlenose dolphins and killer whales paper discusses the characteristics of these amazing underwater creatures.
Unique killer whale
Killer whales or Orcas are the biggest members of the entire dolphin family. Adult male killer whales can grow up to 32 feet long and weigh as much as 6 tons. They are smart and social creatures. Like dolphins, they live in close family pods. They also talk with each other their own way with clicks, whistles or pulsed calls. You cannot miss a killer whale in the ocean with their awesome black and white colors. They are like the pandas of the ocean. The Social Dynamics and Intelligence of Killer Whales paper discusses the behavioral and social complexity of Orcinus orca.
They are also very smart hunters. They work together to catch prey in the open water and even use their tails to hit or catapult sea lions into the air. Although people call them killer whales, they are not really a threat to humans. They very rarely attack people.
Similarities between killer whales and dolphins
Breathing and anatomy
Both killer whales and dolphins are air-breathing mammals. They have blowholes on top of their heads to breathe air. Their sleek bodies help them move quickly and efficiently through the water. They both have blubber layers like a built-in wetsuit to keep them warm in the cold ocean.
Intelligence and social structure
Both killer whales and dolphins are very smart and social creatures. They live closely with family pods. Together as a pod, they hunt, raise their young, and they communicate using special sounds. They are also smart and can figure out how to solve problems.
Differences between killer whales and dolphins
Size and physical characteristics
Killer whales are the hulks of the dolphin world. They can grow to be over 30 feet long. While most dolphins, like bottlenose dolphins, are only about 13 feet long.
Dietary habits
Killer whales are not picky eaters. They will go after all kinds of things, from fish and seals to even other whales! But dolphins go for smaller fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Hunting strategies
Killer whales are team hunters. They work together to trap and catch their prey. Sometimes, they even ram them with their heads or launch them out of the water with their tails. Dolphins are fast and agile hunters, but they do not usually go with plans.
Are killer whales dolphins?
Even though killer whales, or orcas, look different from smaller dolphins, science says they are actually part of the dolphin family called Delphinidae. Yes, the word “whale” is in their name, but in marine biology, names can sometimes mislead us. The conclusion comes from the similarities in their physical features, behavior, and genes we explored above. So, even though they are much bigger and more predatory than other dolphins, all the scientific evidence shows that killer whales are a type of dolphin.
Conclusion
You might find it weird that killer whales are classified as dolphins, especially since they are so big and known as powerful predators. But scientists agree on this because killer whales and other dolphins have so many similarities in their body shape, scientific classification, and behavior.